tied to (someone's) apron strings

(redirected from tied to our apron strings)

tied to (someone's) apron strings

To be controlled or dominated by someone. I'm worried that my husband will forever be tied to his mother's apron strings—he's a grown man but still does every little thing she asks!Can you make a decision on your own, or are you tied to her apron strings?

tied to apron strings

Wholly dependent on or controlled by a woman, especially one's mother or wife. For example, At 25, he was still too tied to her apron strings to get an apartment of his own. This expression, dating from the early 1800s, probably alluded to apron-string tenure, a 17th-century law that allowed a husband to control his wife's and her family's property during her lifetime.

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.